An "incredible" businessman was tragically discovered dead at home by his devastated wife.

Bradley McManus took his own life at their house in Chartham near Canterbury at the age of 32, an inquest has heard.

At the hearing on Tuesday, coroner Sonia Hayes described his death as a "sad and tragic" case.

The inquest heard how Mr McManus, who had a history of mental ill health, had made an attempt on his life about a month before.

Ms Hayes raised concerns about the way this incident was dealt with by the counsellor he was seeing at the time.

Mr McManus grew up in Deal, and attended Sir Roger Manwood's grammar school in Sandwich, where he met childhood sweetheart Amy.

The couple later married and moved to Chartham, establishing their successful business AM Marketing in Canterbury.

But Mr McManus suffered trauma after a serious car accident in 2014.

He also struggled with the death of his brother-in-law last year, following which his "demeanour completely changed".

Bradley regularly saw his GP, and was prescribed antidepressants.

But his visits to the doctor stopped in early March this year, when he began seeing a private counsellor psychotherapist in Canterbury.

On March 26, about a month before his death, Mr McManus made an attempt to end his life.

After the incident, he sent a WhatsApp message to his counsellor, revealing he had consumed "a lot" of alcohol and taken drugs, before trying to hang himself.

Mr McManus had written: "I don't want to be dead but I want to die."

His counsellor arranged to meet with him for a session the following morning.

Coroner Sonia Hayes said she had "some concerns" about the way the incident was dealt with.

Describing Mr McManus' actions as a "serious attempt to kill himself", she probed the counsellor about why he did not ring for medical help.

But the counsellor responded: "Because that would have been contrary to Bradley's wishes.

"I sent him details of the Samaritans and mental health hotlines. I told him to see his GP.

"I'm saying again and again 'am I the right person to be helping you?'

"I don't want to carry this burden on my own. I want him to engage in as much help as is possible."

But the counsellor said he was reluctant to stop seeing Mr McManus, in case he refused to engage with other services for help.

He told the hearing Mr McManus had not disclosed the full scope of his mental health issues, adding that counsellors are largely forced to rely upon information provided by patients.

"In hindsight if I'd known what I know now, I wouldn't have taken this case, but I wasn't informed with that information," he added.

"I was having to make a lot of guesses."

The inquest heard Mr McManus had been talking "daily" about suicide, leading his wife to set him up with support groups with his friends on WhatsApp and Facebook.

On the night of April 30, Mrs McManus had sent messages to her husband. But when she awoke next morning, she saw her texts had not been read and began to worry.

After contacting a neighbour, who found there was no answer at the couple's home in Chartham, Mrs McManus rushed to the property.

Upon letting herself in, she tragically found her husband dead upstairs.

She called 999, and paramedics soon arrived, declaring Mr McManus dead at the scene.

Ms Hayes said it is likely he died either in the early hours of May 1, or late the night before.

A toxicology report showed Mr McManus had not been taking his mental health medication at the time of his death.

Police confirmed there were no suspicious circumstances.

Mr McManus' counsellor says that he has made changes to his practices, following his client's tragic death.

He has launched a database system, where he records clients' scores in depression and anxiety assessment tests.

"I'm being much, much firmer on the need to be honest and to refer," he added.

Recording a conclusion of suicide, Ms Hayes said "This is a sad and tragic story I hear,"

She is satisfied that there were "issues around [Mr McManus] being transparent with his counsellor".

"There were some missed opportunities to escalate the issues," she added. "I do have concerns about some matters."

She said she is now considering whether it falls within her jurisdiction to write a "letter of concern" or make a regulation 28 report on this matter.

Coroners may issue a regulation 28 report to a person, organisation or authority, where they believe action should be taken to prevent further deaths.

Paying tribute to her husband following the inquest, Mrs McManus said: "Bradley was an incredible person who was taken from us far too soon.

“He had such a wide circle of friends and family who loved him.

“I’d like to thank everyone for their unwavering support at this difficult time.

“The kindness and support of our friends, colleagues and even strangers, have been extraordinary.

"I'm also extremely grateful to the hard work of the coroner and her team."

Following Mr McManus' death, a Gofundme page raised more than £12,000 in his memory.

The funds helped purchase a memorial bench at "one of his favourite spots" on Walmer seafront, along with a second bench at Sir Roger Manwood's School.

Mrs McManus said: "It also meant two prizes can be named in Bradley’s honour at the school.

“As Bradley was such a brilliant, self-confessed nerd and Excel genius 'The Bradley McManus Award for Computer Science', will be awarded to two students every year.

“A large proportion of the money will also be donated to local mental health charities who supported Bradley and continue to support me at this awful time.

"Words cannot describe how grateful I am for everyone’s generosity, particularly at a time when people are going through financial struggles."

For confidential support on an emotional issue, call Samaritans on 116 123 at any time or click here to visit the website.

If you want to talk to someone confidentially, click here.

For more information on how we can report on inquests, click here.

Read more: All the latest news from Canterbury

Read more: All the latest news from Deal